Method of taking and completing X-ray pictures of objects in action and machine for taking pictures according thereto



March 12, 5 KATZMAN METHOD OF TAKING AND COMPLETING X-RAY PICTU ACTION AND MACHINE FOR TAKING PICTURES ACCORDING THERETO 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 14, 1928 Jvwe'nhva 5AM KATZM AN March 12,1929. 5 ZM 1,704,974

METHOD OF TAKING AND COMPLETING X-RAY PICTURES OF OBJECTS IN ACTION AND MACHINE FOR TAKING PICTURES ACCORDING THERETO Filed Jan. 14, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. 5AM KATZ MAN BY Wb/7efia0 V0 A TTORNE Y.

March 12, s. K ZMA METHOD OF TAKING AND COMPLETING X-RAY PICTURES OF OBJECTS IN ACTION AND MACHINE FOR TAKING PICTURES ACCORDING THERETO Filed Jan. 14. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. SAM KAT 2 M AN BY Wh/febeaa 5 lo y/ PEI? A TTORNEYS ED AT A EN .Q FICE-A X-ray pictures and particularly of objects in action, andobtaming a series of such Patented Mar. 12,1929.

SAMZKA'IZIMAN, on DENVER, COLORADO.

METHOD on TAKING AND-COMPLETING x-nAY rrcr'onns on onJEorsIn ACTIONAND; MACHINE non TAKING ncronns acconnme rnERE'ro,

Application filed January 14, 1928, Serial No. 246,754. 7

My invention relates to thetaking of pictures showing a series of progressive stages of such action, and my invention in chides an improvement in the process of taking, and also improvements in X-ray machines for-"taking, such pictures 'in ac cordance with said process. I

The operation of the process and'ot the machine can be very simply and graphically described by using as an example'the operation in taking a series of pictures of the human heart in action and-therefore terminology applicable to such use will be employed hereinafter without in any manner limiting the process or machine, or theirobjects, uses, or operation to the subject matter here used as'an 'exemplific'ation, the process and machine being both applicable to other subjects as well as to the heart.

An object of my invention is to provide a process and means for obtaining a seriesot "X-ray pictures of the heart sh'owingth'e outline thereof at each of a series of changes during its cycle, that is, during a complete heart beat. j i v A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby an X-ray picture showing the changing outline of aheart in ac tion may be taken by separate exposures, or by continuous exposure, of a film during one cycle, that is, during a length of time equal to theperiod' from the start vof one heart beat to the start of the next heart beat,

or during more than one cycle; I v

A further object is to provide means whereby at each separate exposure of the film a plurality of X-ray pictures, each of a-separate local area of the heart,- may be taken. V

A further object is to'provide means for obtaining a series or X-ray pictures, ,or a single progressivepicture ot a plurality of separate local areas of the heart such that by joining the outlinesot', all local areas taken at thesame' instant, an' outline of the entire'h art at that particular instant may be obtained.

A. further object isto provide means for obtaining a pluralityot' outlines ofthe heart during a' cycle, thereby making possible a series of outlines of the heart showing progressively the action of the heart during a joining slit;

cycle, or making possible a close and exact study of the action of any individualhearts action by observation and measurement of the action of local areas 'withoutresorting tothe construction of the complete outline;

A further object is to'provide means including an apertured plate and" a film, movable parallel with respect to each other,'to obtain a series of X-ray pictures or to obtain a single progressive picture of aplurality of separate local areas of the heart,

such that after the film is developed it may be placed adjacent a properly apertured plate and relative movement provided between the plate and the film to simulate a moving picture of the heart in action.

I accomplish the aboveobjects by providing, in an X-ray picture machine,"a sensi tized film between two intensifying plates or fluorescent screens, adapted tov be moved stepwise at high speed with predetermined time intervals between movements, or adapted to be moved continuously.

A plate practically impervious to X rays plates,this' impervious plate being provided with'a series of slits so positionedas-to make separate pictures oi the desired local areas of the heart.

is placedadjacentthe film and intensifying l These slits are far-enough separated on I the impervious plates as to permit a series of the required. number of exposures, to be registered'on the film under each slit, such that the last exposure under a given slit' will not overlap the first exposure under the ad- Thus, each slit will register, say,n1ne exposures on the film without over-1; lapplng any .To determine theexact form of the heart at the instant of anyone of the nine exgressively its action during one cycle,-'the .correspondingpictures under each slit are joined. That is, in the series of say nine exposures under each slit, all exposures numi -the nine exposures'register'ed 1 by adjoiningslits.

'tain'nine pictures ofthe heart'showing pros ber larefjoined to show the exactoutline of the heart at the instant of the first exposure;

fall exposures number 2 are joined-toishovv the exact outline of the heart/at the-install of the second exposure, and so on.

- joining the corresponding points ofthe con- If the actual outlines are not constructed, the action of the heart at any local point may be studied by observation and measuretures will show n'ogressively the path of travel of the outline of each local area during the time of the exposures, and the action of the heart may be stuched by observation and measurement of the. different positions in the contour during the series of exposures of each local area.

. If outlines of the heart are also required from such pictures they may be obtained by tours of the different pictures. I j r The above explains the process by which study of the progressive action of the heart during one or more cycles made and the outlines, if desired, obtained.

One embodiment of the cmistruction by which this process may be carried out is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

. Figure I is avertical.scction'through the entire machine, with the supporting bench indicated by dotted lines.

Figure II is a plan view of the machine without the supporting bench or X-ray tube and with the guard or protecting platform removed.

Figure III is a perspective of the machine without the supporting bench or X- ray tube and showing tho escapement or tripping mechanism.

Figure IV is a diagram illustrative of the pictures obtained on a single film and the -method of obtaining therefrom the outlines of the object pictured.

Flgures V and VI are detailed v ews of the escapement mechanism.

' The box orenclosure 1, .the guard or protecting platform. 2, the shaft-supports 3, 3,

18, 13, and the plate supports 18, constitute the framework of the machine, the upper surface of which is flush with the supporting bench B indicated by dotted lines in Figure I. t y V The X-ray tube C, properly supported and served, is adapted to be positioned. as desired above the machine.

In the shaft supports 3, 8, turns the shaft 5, carrying the two timerwheels 6 and 7-and a bevel gear 8, securely attached to the shaft '5. H V V In meshwvith the bevelgear Sis a bevel gear 9 which is securely attached to the shaftlO. I j I The bevel gears 8 and 9 are properly supbrake plate 51 along the shaft ported and held in mesh by the shaft supi ports .3 and 13; 7 V

To the shaft '10, which rotates in the shaft supports 13, 13, is securely attached the bevel gear 11 which is in mesh with the bevel gear 12. The bevel gear 12 issecurely attached to the shaft le'l which is rotated by the motor .4, through the medium of the shaft 21, and

Secured to the shaft 21 is a fly ball governor 15. ,As. the fly balls 50 move toward and away from the shaft 21 they move the or toward thefbrake shoes 52.

I Adjustment of the position .of the brake shoes, therefore, adjusts the speed of the shaft 21. at which contact between the brake plate 51 and the brake shoes 52 takes place. This adjustment of the brake shoes toward or away from the brake plate 51 is accomplished by rotation of the screw '16.

V The machine has two separate and distinct power units; the timer motor a and the trac tor spring 24. I I

j The function of the motoret is to rotate the shaft 5 at the steady predetermined angularvelocity set by the adjustment of the,

screw16, so thatthe timerwheels 6 and 7 21 away from which are securely attached to the shaft 5 will rotate accordingly and allow the escape wheel 25 and the shaft 29 a definite intermittent rotation.

The function of the tra ctor spring 2 1 is to rotatethe escape wheel 25 through the shaft 29, the steady rotation of the timer Wheels 6 and 7 permitting this rotation of the escape wheel'25 to take place intermittently.

" This feature of construction is illustrated The most accurate adjustment of the time intervals through which the escape wheel operates can be effected in the construction of the timer wheels 6 and 7, for at any given speed of the shaft 21, as, set by the governor 15 and the adjusting screw 16, the width of the teeth as well as the width of the spaces between the teeth can be calculated to allow the predetermined time intervals desired after each jump or rotative movement of the escape wheel 25- and the shaft 29.

The intermittent rotation of th'e shaft provides intermittent rotation for the gears 28 which are securely attachedto the shaft 29. The gears 28 mesh with the racks '27 sought may require.

which are securely attached to the cassette carrier 26. Hence, the tractor spring'24, through the steadily moving timer wheels 6 and 7, the escape wheels 25, the shaft 29, the

gears 28 and the racks 27, gives the cassette carrier 26 an intermittent movement that is in step with the intermittent movement of the 'escapewheel 25. That is, the cassette carrier 26 rests for definite intervals of time and jumps to new positions between rests.

Further adjustment or variation of these time intervals mayfbe obtained by constructing the escape wheel 25, with more or with less teeth as desired, and also byvariation in the distancebetween the timer wheels 6 and 7. v

The collar 30 on the "shaft 29 acts-as a shoulder against which the compressed spring 31 bears, the other end of the spring 31 hearing against the framework 1. 7

This spring pressure tends to keep the shaft 29 in such position that. the pawl'82 is resiliently held in the notches of the ratchet wheel 33.

The ratchet wheel 33 is securely'attached to the escape wheel 25and both the escape wheel 25 and the ratchet wheel 33- are fr'ee to revolve as a single unit on the shaft 29 except for the co-action of the pawl 32 and the teeth of the ratchet wheel 38. l

The escape wheel 25' is held spacedfrom the framework 1 by the bearing 25:

, Thepawl 32 also serves as a handle or key for the. purpose of winding up the tractor spring 24 and thereby returning the cassette carrier 26 to the original or starting position. As the pawl 82 is revolved by hand in winding up the spring 24,the shaft 29 is forced endwise against the pressure of the spring 31 as the pawl 32 ridesupon the beveled sides of the teeth of the ratchet wheel The cassette carrier 26 carries a cassette 34:, as is shown in Figure I, the sensitized filenr 35 being between the intensifying or fluorescent 'screens36 and 37. The. cassette being of'the standard type in use requires no further description. The plate 17 which: is substantially opaque to X-rays' is attached to thebox frame ,1, thus forming the top of the machine.

The person whose heart is being, pictured" is so positioned upon the bench B and upon theplate 17 that the heart orother part being photographed will be over the plate 1.7. The plate 17 is supported, bythe support plate 18, which is constructed of material that is not opaque to the X-rays. I

In the plate 17 are a number of slits 20. The dimensions, shapes and relative positions of the slits may be varied as the objects being shadowgraphed' and the results If continuous instead of intermittent movement of the casette carrier and film is desired, the shaft 5 and'the timer wheels 3 and 7 may be dispensed with, and the gear v22 maybe made to mesh with the gear 28,

the governor 15 then being used to control the uninterrupted revolution of the shaft 29 and the resulting uninterrupted movement of the cassette carrier 26. i

vi hilethe' process may be .ell'ected by any suitable mechanical arrangemei'it of power units, gears, timer, wheels, governor, or other similar or dissimilar members or con.- struction so long as the desired results of quick 'movem-ent between positions and in case of intermittent movement, predetermined periods of rest between movements To obtain the outline of the heart at any given instant, the termini of the shadows taken at'that' instant through each of the apertures of the plate are joined. 'Th'at is, joining the termini ofthe third shadow in each series produces the outlines at. In other words, the outline of the object at the instant of the number three exposure is obtained by drawing aline connecting the termini of all number 40 shadows on the film. 1

Outline Z) is obtained bya line joining the termini of all number 42 shadows and outline 0 is formed by joining the termini of all number 44 shadows. Thus, the actual outlines of the object at the time of each-of the exposures may be obtained. 7 A plate, such as platc'l7,with its apertures 2O placed over a picture of the heart taken according to this process and as illus trated diagrammatically at Figure IV. and

moved over the 'pictureby successive 'disclosures through the apertures of the-plate of the series of shadows, will give in effect afmoving picture of the heart during the exposures. I

' Many modifications of and changes in construction of the machine and in detail of the process maybe made within the spirit and scope of the invention and the appended claims. i

What I clainias new. and desire to protect by Lctters Patent is as hollows: l. The process comprising taking X-ray pictures, simultaneously upon a single. film,

of separated local areas of. an object and drawing lines, connecting corresponding points in the pictures for forming an outline of the object.

2. The process comprising taking X-ray pictures of an active object in a series during a given cycle of its act-ion, each picture in the series being upon a single tilm but .Jein ina plura y of sections, each of which covers only a separated local area of said object, and drawing lines connecting corrc spending points in the various sections of each picture for forming an outline of the ob ject in its condition at the timeof the taking of said picture, whereby. to obtain outlines of said object at each of such series of stages of its'cycle of action.

The process of picturingprogressive changes in an active object during a given cycle of its action, comprising taking a series of exposures during said cycle, each exposure taking X-ray pictures of separated local areas of id object but upon a single film,

and drawing lines connecting corresponding points in the local-alea-sections of the pic- 7 lures formed by each exposure.

. cycle of action.

. :lJThe process of taking a series of X-ray pictures of an active object, each picture being of a plurality of separated local areas of said object but upon a single film.

he process con'iprising takinga series of X-ray pictures, simultaneously upon a single film, of local areas of an active object, such local areas being sufficiently spaced apart for the taking of the series of pictures without overlapping thereof.

6. The process of taking a series of X-ray pictiu'es of an active object, each picture being of a plurality of separated local areas of said object but upon a single film, com- )risine' the inter )osition between the ob'ect is l and the; film of a plate having apertures there in and impervious to X-rays, except for said apertures, and in fixed relation to the object and the provision of movement relatively between the film and the object during said 7. The process of obtaining a moving X- ray picture or an active object comprising taking X-ray pictures of said object in. a

series during a givencycle'o fits action, each lHOt-UI'G [11 the series beingof'a plurality of separated local areas of said object but upon a single film, placing an apertm'edplate ad jacent the developed film and providing relative movement between the film and the plate.

.8; In an X-ray machine, means for producing X-rays, a plate therebelow substantially impervious to the Xrays and having a plluality of separated apertures, means formaintaining the plate and the object to be pictured in relatively fixed relation, a sensitized film: mounted. adjacent and below said plate, and means for causing relative n'iovement between the plate and the film.

'9. In an X-ray machine, means for producing X-rays, a plate therebelow substantially impervious to the X-rays and having a plurality of separated apertures, means for maintaining the plate and the object to be pictured in relatively fixed relation. a sensitized film mounted adjacent and below said 3 and means to move the carrier relative to theplate. a I 7 11. In an X-ray picture machine, means for producing Xaays, a plate substantially impervious to the X-rays'therebelow. and having a plurality of apertures, means for maintaining the plate and the object to be pictured in relatively fixed relation, a movable carrierprovided with means sensitive to the X rays, means togive the carrier a seriesof movements relative to the plate and separated by predetermined intervals of time, andmeans to adjust said predetermined intervals of time.

12. In an X-ray picture machine, means for producing X-rays,.a plate substantially impervious to the X-rays therebel'ow and having a plurality of apertures,means for maintaining the plate and the object to be pictured in relatively fixed relation, a movable carried provided with means sensitive to the X-ray, means adapted to move the.

carrier relative to the plate, an escapement,

mechanism connected to interrupt the movement of said carrierat regular intervals'for predetermined periods of time, and means to adjust the escapement mechanism to vary said predetermined periods of time.

13. In an Xray machine,'means for producing X-rays, a 'platesubstantially impervious to the X-rays therebelow and having a plurality of apertures,a movable carrier provided with means sensitive to the X-rays, a

shaft, rack and gear connections between the carrier. and the shaft, means adapted to rotate the shaft and move the carrier relative to the plate through said rack and gear connection, an escape Wheel on the shaft, a second shaft, means to steadily rotate the second shaft and to control the rate of such steady rotation, and means on the second shaft adapted to co-oporate With the escapcavheel and to intermittently stop the movement of said carrier, i x In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

SAM KATZMAN.

for ,pro- 

